How to Paint Concrete Statues

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Concrete statues are commonly found as yard ornaments or objects of interior decor. Because concrete is porous, it is important to use a specific process when painting it. Follow these instructions for how to paint concrete statues.

Steps

1. Prepare the statue for painting. Before painting concrete, you must take certain steps to ensure the paint will stick to it:
   • Wash the statue with water, using a garden hose or shower sprayer. Do not use soap.
   • Allow the concrete statue to air dry.
   • Blow any remaining dust or concrete flakes off the statue using a high pressure air hose.
2. Apply a base coat to the entire statue, using either a brush or a sprayer.
   • Use either a latex exterior paint or a paint formulated especially for painting concrete, in a color that is appropriate to the top coat color you will be using.
   • Coat the bottom of the concrete statue with a base coat first. Allow it to dry, then stand the statue up for painting.
   • Allow the base coat to dry, then inspect the statue for full coverage. Concrete is very absorbent, so you may need to apply more than 1 base coat. If you notice that an area seems dull or washed out in comparison to other areas, it is a good idea to apply another base coat.
3. Choose a painting method for the top coat. You may opt to use a paint brush or paint sprayer to coat the statue, or you can choose from other creative paint finish options:
   • Drybrushing involves using base and top coats that are contrasting in nature, and swiping a partially-coated paintbrush over the concrete statue to create a weathered, striation effect. For example, you can use a black base coat for your statue, then dip your paintbrush in white paint, wipe most of the white paint off the brush and swipe the barely-damp paintbrush across your statue for a feathery look.
   • For an antiquing method, use a light or white base coat for concrete statues, then apply the colored top coat, let the paint sit for 10 minutes and wipe away the excess paint using a dampened rag. Apply and wipe away paint as necessary to get the desired effect.
   • Airbrushing is a technique that requires a paint airbrush. It is a learned skill that can create realistic effects for animal statues, and can work with either a dark or light base coat, depending on the subject.
   • Detailing involves using small brushes to create details in the top coat by hand. Concrete statues that are going to be detailed generally work best with white base coats.
4. Paint the top coat. You can either paint concrete statues a solid color, or use a variety of colors for details. Use any type or variety of exterior latex paint and/or concrete paint products found in home improvement and craft stores. Allow the top coat to dry for 24 hours before moving on to the next step in painting concrete.
5. Seal the statue. Use a non-yellowing exterior concrete sealer. This will protect paint colors from fading and keep out harmful moisture. Place the concrete statue on a ventilated surface (gravel or rock will do), and allow the sealer to dry for 24 hours.

Tips

• Always make sure the area where you will be painting concrete is well-ventilated.
• If you cast concrete statues yourself, then you should wait at least 3 days after a statue is released from its mold to paint it.
• For easy accessibility, place the concrete statue on a turntable or other turning surface.
• If you are painting in the hot sun, you may need to thin your paints with water to allow the paint to soak into the concrete before it dries.
• Reseal painted concrete statues every 1 to 3 years to protect the paint job.

Warnings

• Do not seal the bottom of concrete statues, as it is important to let them breathe.

Sources and Citations

• http://www.svjcreativedesigns.com/info/care.php
• http://extremehowto.com/creating-concrete-sculptures/

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